Many drivers and importers are unhappy with the current situation at the Mini Dry Port (MDP) in Phuentshogling. According to them, it takes too much time to tranship their goods at the MDP. This is on top of the days already spent on bringing in goods from Jaigoan.
Sonam Tobgay, an owner of an enterprise in Thimphu spent over a week to bring his goods from Jaigaon. After failing to get the online permit, he sought help from the customs officials. And the transhipment at the dry port took him a few days again.
“We have to apply online and it’s on a first-come-first basis. We have to be very quick if not it could take weeks and even months. My two trucks took over a week to reach here,” said Sonam Tobgay, the Owner of Tshering Norlha Enterprise in Thimphu.
“It is very difficult to get the trucks inside after reaching Jaigaon. It is very difficult to apply online. Earlier we could easily bring our trucks inside, and then Thimphu the next day,” added Rinchen Choden, the Manager of Dechen Enterprise in Thimphu.
According to importers, earlier the Hardware Association of Bhutan took care of the transhipment of construction materials separately. Whereas today all the transshipments are carried out at the MDP. And the MDP takes in only about 100 vehicles in a day.
Because of this, drivers have to wait longer to get their goods transhipped at the MDP.
“The situation has been like this. It started from the day they decided to change contractors and workers here. Earlier it was better and we did not have to wait like this. I have been waiting since 10 am in the morning. Still, I could not load,” said Jigme Wangchuk, a driver in Phuentshosling.
BBS contacted the private enterprise that looks over the loading, unloading and transhipment of goods at the MDP but he refused to comment.
According to drivers and importers, reasons for slow transhipment at the MDP could be due to the new payment system. Earlier the workers were paid as per the number of vehicles they tranship. Now they are paid on a daily basis and therefore they don’t work fast. Moreover, there used to be around 180 workers and today there are only over 80 workers at the MDP. About 15 loaders also left a few days ago.
“We came here after we were told that we would be paid Nu 1,000 a day. Now we are not given proper food too. There are about six of us in the group and we were given a kilogram of potato for a week. Earlier, they promised to give our payments every two weeks. But now when we ask for money we get cursed in foul language,” said a loader, at the MDP who asked for anonymity.
Meanwhile, as per customs officials in Phuentshogling, 100 vehicles are taken in from the border every day like before. However, transhipment by the Hardware Association of Bhutan had to stop after the school they were given to carry out transhipment was taken back as the school resumed. Also, more construction materials are seen coming in due to the upcoming construction season.
The Revenue and Customs office in Phuentshogling outsourced the work at the MDP to Dhendup Enterprise in December last year to reduce the cost of transhipment. According to importers, the cost has been reduced by about 50 per cent. Earlier, the transhipping works were done by around 180 people living in self-containment after the border closures in March last year.
SP/KD
